Remote controlled automatic power operated winch and boom for boats



March 29, 1966 M. B. ANDERSON REMOTE CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC POWER OPERATEDWINCH AND BOOM FOR BOATS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. '7. 1964 INVENTOR.MlLAN B. ANDERSON Man}! 9, 1966 M. B. ANDERSON REMOTE CONTROLLEDAUTOMATIC POWER OPERATED WINCH AND BOOM FOR BOATS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledFeb. 7, 1964 MILAN B. ANDERSON March 29, 1966 M. B. ANDERSON 3,242,894

REMOTE CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC POWER OPERATED WINCH AND BOOM FOR BOATS 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. '7, 1964 INVENTOR.

Ml LAN B. ANDERSON United States Patent 3,242,894 REMOTE CONTROLLEDAUTOMATIC POWER OPERATED WINCH AND BOOM FOR BOATS Milan B. Anderson, SanDiego, Calif. (8715 Elden St., La Mesa, Calif.) Filed Feb. 7, 1964, Ser.No. 343,247 6 Claims. (Cl. 114-210) The present invention relatesgenerally to a remotely controlled automatic power operated winch andboom structure for use on boats and the like and more particularly tosuch a structure which is readily adapted for hauling small boats, ofthe so-called outboard.type, out of the water for the purpose ofberthing on a trailer.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved combinedpower operated winch and boom structure which can be readily mounted onthe deck of a boat.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved poweroperated winch and boom structure which will require a minimum sizedopening in the deck of the boat.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improvedpower operated winch and boom structure, particularly adapted forraising an anchor, in which the power source is automatically cut off inthe event the anchor becomes snagged.

A still further and important object of this invention is to provide animproved power operated winch and boom structure for boats in which thepower is automatically cut off upon increase or decrease in tension inthe cable.

A still further and ancillary object of this invention is to provide animproved power operated winch and boom structure for boats that is deckmounted adjacent the bow, the cable of which can be readily attached toa trailer for the purpose of hauling the boat out of the water.

Finally, it is an object to provide a winch and boom structure of theaforementioned character which is simple and convenient to use and whichwill give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consistsin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements andportions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification;particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawingswhich form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the boom in retracted position on the bowof a boat;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the boom extended, a portion being cutaway to show the actuating mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged end elevation view of the telescopic portion ofthe boom, as taken from the left end of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the boom inretracted position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view on line 77 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIGURE 5; 1

FIGURE 9 is a wiring diagram of the actuating system; and

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of the apparatus in use to haula boat onto a trailer.

Referring generally to the drawings, and particularly FIGURES 1 to 3 aportion of the bow section of a boat is shown which includes a hull 10and deck 12. The winch and power means for operating it, shown generallyby the reference numeral 14, is mounted on the underside of deck 12 in aposition to be protected from the weather, while the boom structure,indicated generally by the reference numeral 16 is mounted above deck12, as clearly shown in FIGURE 3.

The winch structure 14 consists of a support member 18 of any suitableshape secured to the underside of deck 12. Mounted on one side of thesupport member 18 is a power means 28 which may be an electric motor orinternal combustion engine. Connected to the output shaft of power means20 is a conventional reducing drive mechanism 22, here shown in the formof a worm drive 24 which is connected by a worm gear 26 to driven shaft28.

Driven shaft 28 extends through, and is suitably journalled forrotation, in supporting plate 18. A ratchet wheel 30 of conventionalconstruction is secured to the outer end of driven shaft 28 for apurpose that will be hereinafter described. Reel 32 is rotatably mountedon driven shaft 28 and has wound thereon anchor cable 34 one end ofwhich is secured to the reel. The outer face of reel 32 is provided witha spring pressed dog 36 which engages ratchet wheel 30 and preventsrotation of the reel 32 in one direction on shaft 28. Outer face of reel32 is also provided with a handle 38 for selective manual operation ofthe reel as desired.

The boom structure 16 consists essentially of two telescoping members, afixed tubular housing support member 40 and a member 42 reciprocablymounted within support member 40. Support member 40 is generallyrectangular in cross section and is mounted on the deck 12 of the boatby spaced pairs of brackets 44 and 46. The general inclination of thesupport member is hori zontal but it may, if desired, be inclinedslightly upwardly as shown in FIGURE 5. Member 40 is closed on theinboard end by a plug 48, suitable drainage means (not shown) beingprovided, if desired, in the plug or the end of the support member.

Member 42 is of generally the same cross sectional shape as member 40.The bottom wall however is formed of inwardly extending flanges S0 and52 leaving a slot 54 therebetween which extends the full length thereof,the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. To facilitateslidable movement of member 42 within support 40 suitable antifrictionmeans are provided therebetween. To this end a pair of brackets 56 and58 are mounted on the bottom wall of support 40 adjacent the forward endthereof. Extending through these brackets and journalled therein is anaxle member 60 to the ends of which is secured supporting rollers 62 and64. These rollers bear against the inner surface of the top wall ofmember 42 and support this member during reciprocation in member 40. Therear end of member 42 is provided with a pair of spaced rollers 66 and68 to guide and locate the rear end thereof during reciprocation. Roller66 is rotatably mounted on spindle 70 secured in the sidewalls of member42 and projects through an opening 72 in member 42 to engage the innersurface of the top wall of support 40-. Roller 68 is similarly rotatablymounted on a spindle 74 and projects through slot 54 for engagement withthe bottom wall of member 40. Member 42 is normally urged outwardly inthe support tube 40 by means of compression spring 76. Forward movementof member 42 is limited by engagement of stop pin 78 with bracketmembers 56 and 58.

As shown in FIGURE 3, cable 34 from reel 32 passes over guide pulleys 80and 82, through boom member 42, and over a guide pulley 84 mounted inthe outer end of boom member 42. The exposed end of cable 34 is providedwith a shackle 86 for detachable connection to a standard anchor 88. Toprevent cable 34 from jumping off pulley 84 spaced vertically mountedguide rollers 90 and 92 may be provided in the outer end of boom member42 together with a hold down pin 94. Guide pulley 80 is supported belowdeck 12 by spaced bracket members 96, common securing means 98 beingprovided to secure the brackets 46 and 96 to the deck. This assuresaccurate alignment of the groove in pulley 80 with the axis of supportmember 40. A hole 100 in deck 12 provides for passage of the cablethrough the deck. Since guide pulleys 80 and 82 are fixed with respectto the deck the axis of the length of cable between these pulleysremains fixed, therefore hole 100 can be made quite small reducing thepossibility of leakage therethrouglh. If desired, a rubber wiper may beplaced over hole 100.

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic showing of the basic wiring for reversiblemotor 20 which may be driven by a conventional battery (not shown).Master switch 102 controls both the anchor raising circuit 104 includingrelay'106 and the anchor lowering circuit 108 including the relay 1i10.interposed in the anchor raising circuit is a normally closed overloadrelief switch, 112, which is controlled by action of the slidable boommember 42. The anchor lowering circuit 108 has a normally closed switch114 that is adapted to open as slack is produced in the cable when theanchor reaches the bottom.

Operation The operation of my improved winch and boom structure will nowbe described. With particular reference to FIGURE cable 34 is showncompletely retracted and wound on reel 32. Boom member 42 is in theretracted position enclosed within the support 40, the cushion member 116 on the inner end of boom 42 contacting the switch 112 to break theanchor raising circuit. To lower the anchor master switch 102 ismanually operated to close the anchor lowering circuit. This activatesmotor 20 to rotate in a direction to unwind cable 34 from reel 32. Sincethe reel 32 is driven at a relatively slow speed due to the reducingdrive 22, the motor will act as a brake during the time the anchor isbeing lowered. When the anchor reaches the bottom the cable will slackoff as indicated by dotted lines 118 in FIGURE 3. Idler 120, whichfollows cable 34, will move to position 122 thereby opening switch 114breaking the circuit to motor 20.

When it is desired to raise the anchor the master switch 102 is moved tothe anchor raising position thus activating the anchor raising circuitto motor 20 to reel cable 34 in. Should the anchor become entangled withweeds or snagged on rocks on the ocean bottom, which frequently happens,increased tension in the cable will cause the slidable boom member 42 tomove rearwardly overcoming the compression of spring 76 until thecushion member 124 on the end of boom member 42 reaches and trips switch112 to break the anchor raising circuit. Thus the bow end of the boatcannot be swamped due to the anchor becoming entangled.

The usual steps to unsnag the anchor may then be taken and uponsuccessful completion thereof the boom member 42 will return to itsextended position through action of spring 76 and the anchor raisingprocess resumed. When shackle 86 reaches outer end of boom memlber 42tension in the cable will again increase and boom member 42 will againbe forced re'arwardly to actuate switch 112 breaking the anchor raisingcircuit to motor 20.

If desired a wiper 128, preferably formed of flexible material such asrubber, is carried at the forward end of boom member 42 for wiping thewater from cable 34, thus preventing water from dripping into the boat.

4 This wiper may be in the form of a disk slit radially outwardly fromthe center with the slits stopping short of the periphery of the disc.

In FIGURE 10 I have shown how my deck mounted winch can be used forhauling a small boat 130, out of the water and onto a trailer 132. Cable34 is looped over a trailer mounted pulley 134 and the anchor raisingcircuit activated to retract cable 34 on reel 32. When boat has reachedits limit of travel. on trailer 132 increased tension in cable 34 willcause boom member 42 to slide rearwardly to actuate switch 112 therebybreaking the circuit to motor 20.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the inventiondisclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scopeof the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to beconsidered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. A deck mounted winch for boats for raising or lowering .the anchorand berthing the boat one trailer, comprising, in combination with thehull and deck of said boat:

a motor;

a reel operatively connected to said motor;

a cable having one end connected to the reel and the other enddetachably connectable to an anchor;

a support mounted on said deck;

a boom member slidably mounted on said support for movement in asubstantially horizontal plane;

means on the boom member for guiding the cable;

spring means yieldingly urging said boom member outwardly of the boat;said anchor engaging'the outboard end of the boom when thecable isretra'oted;

and power switching means for said motor operated 1 by the boom.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 further including a secondswitching means for said motor, responsive to a predetermined slack onsaid cable to render the motor inoperative to unreel the cable.

3. An anchor raising and lowering mechanism comprising:

an anchor;

a cable connected to the anchor;

a shaft;

a motor for rotating the shaft;

a reel freely rotatable on the shaft, the other end of the cable beingattached to the reel;

a handle on the reel;

a ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft;

a dog pivotally attached to the reel and engaging a tooth of the ratchetwhereby when said dog is disengaged from said ratchet said reel may berotated by hand.

4. The combination of claim 3 further including a movable boom memberadjacent said reel and means on the boom member for guiding the cable.

5. A deck mounted winch for boats for raising or lowering the anchor andberthing the boat on a trailer comprising, in combination with the hulland deck of said oat;

a motor mounted on the underside of said deck adjacent the bow of theboat;

a reel operatively connected to said motor;

a guide pulley mounted on the underside of said deck adjacent said reel;

a substantially horizontal tubular support mounted on the top side ofsaid deck;

a second guide pulley mounted in said support adjacent the forward endthereof;

a hole in said deck in alignment with said pulleys;

a boom slidably mounted in said support andextending outwardly of theforward end thereof;

resilient means urging said boom outwardly;

a cable extending over said guide pulleys and having 5 6 one endconnected with said reel; and the other end determined tension, abovenormal, on the cable, for detachably connected to an anchor; actuatingsaid switch to render the reel inoperative means on the boom for guidingsaid cable; to retract the cable; and and switching means for the motorengageable by the spring means normally yicldingly moving said boominner end of said boom. 5 toward said anchor, 6. An anchor raisingmechanism comprising in combination: References Cited by the Examiner ananchor; UNITED STATES PATENTS a cable connected to the anchor; 1,848,9723/1932 P6619165 254 175 areelforthe cable; 1,912,366 6/1933 Hausenbluck114-210 a motor for actuating the reel; 2,780,196 2/1957 Jareckie.switching means for rendering the motor inoperative to 3 074 370 19Seiger 114 21O unreel the cable; means including a slidable boomresponsive to a pre- 15 FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

1. A DECK MOUNTED WINCH FOR BOATS FOR RAISING OR LOWERRING THE ANCHOR AND BERTHING THE BOAT ON A TRAILER, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION WITH THE HULL AND DECK OF SAID BOAT: A MOTOR; A REEL OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR; A CABLE HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO THE REEL AND THE OTHER END DETACHABLY CONNECTABLE TO AN ANCHRO; A SUPPORT MOUNTED ON SAID DECK; A BOOM MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE; MEANS ON THE BOOM MEMBER FOR GUIDING THE CABLE; SPRING MEANS YIELDING URGING SAID BOOM MEMBER OUTWARDLY OF THE BOAT; SAID ANCHOR ENGAGING THE OUTBOARD END OF THE BOOM WHEN THE CABLE IS RETRACTED; AND POWER SWITCHING MEANS FOR SAID MOTOR OPEREATED BY THE BOOM. 